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NEWS & KNOWLEDGE

National Green Hydrogen Mission: Advantage India The National Green Hydrogen Mission that received the approval of the Union Government with an initial outlay of Rs. 19,744 crore on January 4, 2023 is yet another big initiative in India’s march towards the net zero carbon emission by 2070. The initial outlay includes Rs. 17,490 for the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) programme, Rs. 1,466 crore for pilot projects, Rs. 400 crore for R&D and Rs. 388 crore towards other Mission components. Green Hydrogen is a type of hydrogen produced by splitting water through electrolysis, using electrolyser powered entirely by renewable power sources. There are a number of reasons why hydrogen is being promoted as a clean source of energy. Electricity generation in India is heavily dependent on fossil fuels (coal). If hydrogen can replace it, there will be reduced pollution. Additionally, the import of coal can be reduced. Hydrogen is the most abundant element on the planet and has other advantages such as being lighter, more energy-dense and energy-efficient (2-3 times more than petrol). The transportation, iron and steel, and chemical industries will be benefitted. The aim is to bring down the cost of green hydrogen to $1.5 per kg and produce five million tonnes per year green hydrogen capacity by 2030. India has an advantage here due to its geographical location, climate conditions and abundance of renewable sources of energy like solar, wind and hydropower, making it ideal for becoming the world’s cheapest hub of green hydrogen by 2050. At this juncture, with a calibrated approach, India can uniquely position itself to take advantage with increasing investment in R&D, capacity building, compatible legislation and the opportunity for creation of demand among its vast population. Such initiatives can propel India to become the most favoured nation by exporting hydrogen to its neighbours and beyond. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY, FEBRUARY 2023

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NEWS & KNOWLEDGE

The International Year Of Millets 2023: A Great Opportunity Unleashing the potential of millets for the well-being of people and the environment, the United Nations has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM), dedicating the year to greater efforts in producing millets given their nutritional properties and resilience in adapting to climate change. The opening ceremony for the IYM was organised by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO), the lead agency for the events, at Rome, Italy, on December 6, 2022. The declaration of IYM aims at creating awarness about the contribution of millets to food security and nutrition; inspire stakeholders to improve sustainable production and quality of millets; and focus on enhanced investment in research and development, and extension services. India, which has already celebrated 2018 as National Year of Millets, has played a pioneering role in getting 2023 declared as the IYM. Millet is a collective term referring to a number of small-seeded annual grasses that are cultivated as grain crops, primarily on marginal lands in dry areas in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions. Some of the common millets available in India are Ragi (Finger millet), Jowar (Sorghum), Sama (Little millet), Bajra (Pearl millet) and Variga (Proso millet). The earliest evidence for these grains has been found in Indus Civilisation and were one of the first plants domesticated for food. Millets are less expensive and nutritionally superior to wheat & rice owing to their high protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals like iron content. They are also rich in calcium and magnesium and can provide nutritional security. Millets are grown in about 131 countries and is the traditional food for around 60 crore people in Asia & Africa. India, Nigeria and China are the largest producers of millets in the world, accounting for more than 55% of the global production. India, the largest producer of millet in the world, accounts for 20% of global production and 80% of Asia’s production. In recent years, millet production has dramatically increased in Africa. 8

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY, FEBRUARY 2023

NEWS & KNOWLEDGE

The Healing Of Ozone Layer: Finally A Good News Earth’s protective ozone layer is slowly but noticeably healing at a pace that would fully mend the hole over Antarctica in about 43 years, said a new United Nations report, presented at the American Meteorological Society convention in Denver, USA, on January 9, 2023. In fact, the ozone layer over Antarctica, where the hole is the most prominent, will take a longer time to heal completely. Over the rest of the world, it is expected to be back to where it was in 1980 by 2040 itself. The report, based on once-everyfour-year scientific assessment, said that the global average amount of ozone 18 miles (30 kilometres) high in the atmosphere will not be back to 1980 pre-thinning levels until about 2040 and it will not be back to normal in the Arctic until 2045. Antarctica, where it is so thin that there is a giant gaping hole in the layer, will not be fully fixed until 2066. The ozone layer, previously thought to be the most serious threat to the planetary life, has been steadily improving since 2000, thanks to the Montreal Protocol’s (1987) effective implementation. The Montreal Protocol mandates countries to phase out production of all main ozone depleting substances (ODSs). The Kigali Amendment (2016) to the Montreal Protocol aims to phase down 80-90% of the hydrofluoro carbons (HFCs) currently in use by 2050. HFCs have replaced chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in industrial use and the amendment seeks to prevent additional 0.3 to 0.5 degree Celsius of global warming by the end of the current century. HFCs do not cause much ozone layer damage, which is why they were not originally prohibited, but they are extremely powerful greenhouse gases (GHGs). Nearly 99% of the Montreal Protocol-banned substances have now been phased out of usage, resulting in a slow but steady rebuilding of the ozone layer. The eradication of ODSs has a significant climate change co-benefit because these compounds are also potent GHGs, expected to prevent 0.5 to 1 degree Celsius of warming by 2050. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY, FEBRUARY 2023

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NEWS & KNOWLEDGE

The VSHORADS Missile System: A Shot In The Arm The Very Short-Range Air Defence System or VSHORADS (IR Homing) missile system, is among the weapon systems that have been accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to be procured at a cost of Rs. 4,276 crore for the Indian Army and Indian Navy by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on January 9, 2023. Meant to kill low altitude aerial threats at short ranges, VSHORADS is a manportable Air Defence System (MANPAD) designed and developed indigenously by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners. The DRDO, in September 2022, conducted two successful test-flights of the VSHORADS missile from a ground-based portable launcher at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha. The missile—which is propelled by a dual thrust solid motor—incorporates many novel technologies including miniaturised Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics, which were successfully proved during the tests conducted last year. The DRDO has designed the missile and its launcher in a way to ensure easy portability. Being man-portable and light-weight compared to the other missile systems in the Army’s armoury, it can be deployed in the mountains close to the LAC at a short notice. When it came to man-portable air defence missiles, there was a critical gap in the Army’s inventory, especially for the eastern and northern borders, though not so much for the western borders with Pakistan, for which India has the Soviet-vintage OSA AK missile systems. Others like the Akash Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile System are heavier with a theatre air defence umbrella of up to 25 km and can be deployed further away from the LAC for static formations, and may not be the best bet for mountains. 10

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY, FEBRUARY 2023

Current Events NATIONAL DECEMBER 2022 8. Parliament passes the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2022 which provides for better management of protected areas. 9. Union Minister of State for External Affairs Mr. V. Muraleedharan informs Lok Sabha that over 16 lakh people have given up Indian citizenship since 2011 including 1,83,741 in the year 2022. 10. Kerala Chief Minister Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan declares a seed farm, located at Aluva of Ernakulam district of Kerala, as the first carbon-neutral farm in the country. 11. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi virtually inaugurates the All India

Institute of Ayurveda in Goa, National Institute of Unani Medicine in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh and National Institute of Homoeopathy in Delhi. H Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia is being restored by India, says External Affairs Minister Mr. S. Jaishankar while addressing Kashi Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. H Senior Congress leader Mr. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu takes oath as the 15th Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. 12. BJP leader Mr. Bhupendra Patel takes oath as Gujarat’s 18th Chief Minister for a second term at a highprofile ceremony in Ahmedabad.

Stealth guided missile destroyer INS Mormugao was commissioned to Indian Navy on December 18, 2022. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY, FEBRUARY 2023

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14. The United Nations recognises Namami Gange, the Indian initiative to rejuvenate its sacred river Ganga, as one of the top 10 Water Restoration Flagships to revive the natural world. 15. The Indian Railways completes construction of the longest 12.89 km “escape tunnel” in India, on the 111 km under-construction BanihalKatra section of the Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) in Jammu and Kashmir. 16. The Defence Ministry informs Lok Sabha that the Border Roads Organisation has constructed 64 roads with a length of 3,097 km in Arunachal Pradesh and 43 roads measuring 3,141km in Ladakh in last five years. 17. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council recommends decriminalising certain offences and raises the threshold for launching prosecution from Rs. 1 crore to Rs. 2 crore except for those linked to the offence of issuing fake invoices. 18. Indian Naval Ship (INS) Mormugao, the second stealth guided missile destroyer of Visakhapatnam class, is commissioned to the Indian Navy. 19. Parliament passes the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fourth Amendment) Bill 2022 to include the Betta-Kuruba community in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Karnataka. 20. Puducherry, Lakshadweep and Goa emerge as best-performing while Jharkhand and Bihar as worst among all States and UTs in the Social Progress Index (SPI), says a report titled ‘Social Progress Index: States and Districts of India’. 21. Parliament passes the Maritime Anti-Piracy Bill 2022 which provides for prevention of maritime piracy and stringent punishment to those convicted of crimes related to maritime piracy. 12

Indian Railways on December 15, 2022 completed construction of country's longest 12.89 km ‘escape tunnel’ on Banihal-Katra section of Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Link in Jammu & Kashmir. 22. The Defence Ministry gives approval to 24 military modernisation projects worth Rs. 84,348 crore. 23. The Union Government approves Bharat Biotech’s intranasal Covid-19 vaccine, BBV154, for use as a heterogenous booster dose for all above 18 years of age. 24. The Union Government decides to wave off the fees for registration, diagnosis and treatment at all 9 national institutes and 21 associated composite regional centres (NRCs) across States for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). 25. In his last radio broadcast ‘Mann Ki Baat’ of the year 2022, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi asks people to take precautions against Covid-19, noting that the infection is spreading in many countries. 26. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi leads the nation in commemorating the first Veer Baal Diwas in New Delhi. 27. The Union Government and Government of Manipur sign a tripartite peace agreement with the insurgent group Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), mostly active in Manipur. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY, FEBRUARY 2023

28. As part of India’s G20 Presidency, the Union Government launches the “Stay Safe Online” campaign and the “G20 Digital Innovation Alliance” (G20-DIA). H The Union Government notifies National Geospatial Policy 2022 which aims to bring out a high-resolution topographical map covering entire country by 2030. 29. Indian Army inaugurates its firstever 3D-printed house dwelling unit for its soldiers at Ahmedabad cantonment. H The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), signed in April 2022, comes into effect. H The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully test-fires the extended range version of BrahMos air-launched missile against a ship target from a SU-30MKI aircraft. 30. Election Commission proposes introduction of ‘remote voting’ for domestic migrants, using an EVM that can handle up to 72 multiple constituencies from a single remote polling booth. 31. India and Cyprus sign a number of agreements in various areas including Defence and Military Cooperation as well as Migration and Mobility Partnership between the two countries.

JANUARY 2023 1. The Union Finance Ministry reveals that the gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue receipts in December 2022 stand at Rs. 1.49 lakh crore, up 15% year-on-year. 2. In a 4-1 majority verdict, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court validates the 2016 decision of the Union Government to demonetise currency notes of Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 500, saying it was “flawless”. 3. The Supreme Court rules that no further curbs could be imposed on the GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY, FEBRUARY 2023

The extended range version of BrahMos air-launched missile was successfully test-fired from an SU-30MKI aircraft on December 29, 2022. fundamental right to freedom of speech and the existing eight “reasonable” restrictions under Article 19(2) of the Constitution are “exhaustive”. 4. The Union Government approves National Hydrogen Mission (NHM) with an initial financial outlay of Rs. 19,744 crore. 5. District administration halts road and power plant construction work in the vicinity of Joshimath in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand as reports emerge of deepening cracks in the houses in the town. 6. India’s GDP growth is estimated at 7% for 2022-23 on the back of a rebound in services and farm sectors, as per the first advance estimate by the National Statistical Office. 7. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi urges Chief Secretaries of all States and UTs to focus on quality in every sphere of the economy and do away with “mindless compliances”, “over-regulations” and “outdated laws and rules”. 8. Joshimath is declared a “landslide subsidence zone” as PMO holds a highlevel meeting while Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi assures all help to the State in ensuring safety of the people. 13

INTERNATIONAL DECEMBER 2022 8. Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping meets Arab leaders at two “milestone” Arab Summits, namely China-Arab Summit and China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), hosted by Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. 9. Indian and Chinese troops clash along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) near Yangtse in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, resulting in minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides. 11. Facing an unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases, China sets up more intensive care facilities and strengthens hospitals. 12. British Prime Minister Mr. Rishi Sunak sets out a new 5-step strategy to clamp down on illegal immigration. 13. In a historic nuclear fusion breakthrough, the researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California, US, for the first time produce more energy in a fusion reaction than was used to ignite it, achieving net energy gain. 14. The G7 nations pledge $15.5 billion to help Vietnam’s transition away from coal, as part of a Just Transition Energy Partnership (JTEP). 15. Sri Lanka’s economy shrinks (–) 11.8% in the July-September 2022 quarter, the worst quarterly performance in 2022, the government data shows. 16. Amidst rising regional tensions and war fears, Japan unveils its biggest military build-up since World War II with a $320 billion plan to buy missiles capable of striking China and ready the country for sustained conflict. 17. Indian-origin Mr. Leo Varadkar returns as Ireland’s Prime Minister for a second term following a job-sharing 14

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greets Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping during the GCC Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 8, 2022. deal by the country’s centrist coalition government. 18. European Union reaches an agreement on major carbon market reforms, aiming to accelerate emissions cuts, phase out free allowances to industries and targets fuel emissions from the building and the road transport sectors. 19. Governments from across the world sign a once-in-a-decade global deal to protect 30% of the world’s land and seas by 2030 at the United Nations Biodiversity Summit of COP15 in Montreal, Canada. 20. Ignoring international outrage over curbs and brutality against women, Taliban authorities in Afghanistan issue orders to impose a nationwide ban on university education for females. 21. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopts its first-ever resolution on Myanmar, demanding an immediate end to violence and release of all “arbitrarily detained” prisoners. 23. China’s top health authority estimates that 39 million people may have been affected by Covid-19 as on December 20, 2022 which makes the GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY, FEBRUARY 2023

country’s fresh outbreak the world’s largest. 24. The two-time coup leader and former PM Mr. Sitiveni ‘Rambo’ Rabuka takes oath as Fiji’s 12th Prime Minister in the capital Suva. 25. China is ready to work with India for the “steady and sound growth” of bilateral relations, says Chinese Foreign Minister Mr. Wang Yi in Beijing. 26. Several drones from North Korea cross the heavily armed western border into South Korean airspace, provoking military action by Seoul and further raising tensions in the peninsula. 27. Communist Party of Nepal— Maoist Centre (CPN-MC) Chairman Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ takes oath as the Prime Minister of Nepal for the third time. 28. The United Nations Security Council, under the presidency of India, voices concern over restrictions on women’s and girls’ education and work imposed by Taliban in Afghanistan. 29. Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu takes oath as Israel’s Prime Minister for the sixth time, taking the helm of the most right-wing government in the country’s history. 30. China appoints its Ambassador to the US, Mr. Qin Gang, as the new Foreign Minister amidst signs of moving back to a lower-key diplomatic strategy after a growing backlash against its confrontational style. 31. Croatia bids farewell to its currency Kuno and switches to Euro as well as enters Europe’s passport-free Eurozone in two landmark steps since joining the European Union nearly a decade ago.

JANUARY 2023 1. Nepal’s Prime Minister Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ inaugurates a regional international airport built with GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY, FEBRUARY 2023

Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ took oath as Nepal’s Prime Minister for the third time on December 27, 2022. the Chinese assistance in western Nepal’s tourist hub of Pokhra. H Leftist leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva takes oath as Brazil’s President for a third time, under tightened security in the capital Brasilia. 2. A temporary two-year ban on foreigners buying residential property comes into effect in Canada. 4. Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin sends off a frigate towards the Atlantic and Indian Oceans armed with new hypersonic Zircon cruise missiles. 6. China protests as a US navy destroyer, the USS Chung-Hoon, sails through the Taiwan strait in a “demonstration of the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific”. 7. Democrats’ hold on the US Congress ends as Republican Mr. Kevin McCarthy is elected Speaker of the US House of Representatives. 8. Thousands of Chinese travellers return home for family reunions, some delayed by as long as three years, as China finally opens its borders and dismantles last remnants of its “zeroCovid” regime. 15

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SPORTS DECEMBER 2022 10. Ishan Kishan smashes the fastest double hundred off just 126 balls in the history of ODI cricket as visiting India beats Bangladesh by 227 runs in the 3rd and final match in Chattogram but loses the series 1-2. 12. Former England skipper Joe Root becomes only the third cricketer in history to score 10,000 runs and pick up 50 wickets in Test cricket during 2nd Test against Pakistan in Multan. 15. Spaniard Rafael Nadal and Polish Iga Swiatek are named ITF World Champions 2022. 17. Indian women hockey team beats Spain 1-0 in the final to win the inaugural FIH Nations Cup at Valencia, Spain. H Indian swimmer Chahat Arora clocks 32.91s to set a new national record in the women’s 50m breaststroke at the FINA World Swimming Championships 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. H India beats Bangladesh by 120 runs to win their third consecutive title in the 3rd T20 World Cup for the Blind at Bengaluru. H Jaipur Pink Panthers beats Puneri Paltan 33-29 in the final to win 9th Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) in Mumbai. 18. Lionel Messi captains Argentina to World Cup 2022 glory as his team overcomes defending champions France on penalties after a thrilling game ended 3-3 in extra time at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar. 24. Two-time Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu becomes the only Indian athlete to appear in Forbes’ list of the highestpaid female athletes in the world, coming in at 12th place. 25. India beats Bangladesh by 3 wickets in the 2nd and final Test to clinch series 2-0 in the Mirpur, Bangladesh. 29. The world mourns the demise of international football legend and 16

Argentina captain Lionel Messi led his team to lift the FIFA World Cup 2022 trophy on December 18, 2022. transformative figure in sports, Pele, who takes last breath at a hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 30. Indian ace Koneru Humpy comes up with a superb performance to claim the silver medal in the women’s section of the FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

JANUARY 2023 3. Hardik Pandya-led Team India wins dramatic first T20I against Sri Lanka by 2 runs in a thriller played at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. 4. Saurashtra’s Jaydev Unadkat makes Ranji Trophy history by becoming the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the first over in a career-best 8-wicket haul during the Elite Group B match in Rajkot, Gujarat. 6. M. Pranesh from Tamil Nadu becomes India’s 79th Chess Grandmaster while clinching the Rilton Cup title in Stockholm, Sweden. 7. Suryakumar Yadav shines with explosive 45-ball century as India defeats Sri Lanka by 91 runs in the third and final T20I in Rajkot to win another series at home 2-1. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY, FEBRUARY 2023

HONOURS & AWARDS DECEMBER 2022 7. Time magazine names Ukrainian President Mr. Volodymyr Zelensky as its Person of the Year 2022. 8. Mr. Nilesh Desai of Madhya Pradesh (for Constructive Works), Mr. Mansukhbhai Prajapati of Gujarat (for Application of Science and Technology for Rural Development), Ms. Sophia Saik of Odisha (for Development and Welfare of Women and Children) and Dr. Ogirat Younan and Dr. Walid Slyabi of Lebanon (for Promoting Gandhian Values outside India) win Jamnalal Bajaj 2022 awards. 18. India’s Mrs. Sargam Kaushal wins Mrs. World 2022 pageant hosted in Las Vegas, USA, to bring back the crown to India 21 years after Mrs. Aditi Govitrikar won it in 2001. 19. Mr. Sudeep Sen and Mr. Shobhana Kumar jointly win the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize 2021-22 for their works Anthropocene: Climate Change, Contagion, Consolation and A Sky Full of Bucket Lists, respectively. 20. Mr. Sethrichem Sangtam, who runs an NGO that works with farmers in eastern Nagaland, is conferred the first Rohini Nayyar Prize for outstanding contribution to rural development. 22. Mr. M. Rajendran (Tamil, Kaala Paani, novel), Mr. Gulam Mohammad Shaikh (Gujarati, Gher Jatan, autobiographical essays), Mr. Badri Narayan (Hindi, Tumadi Ke Shabd, poetry), Ms. Anuradha Roy (English, All The Lives We Never Lived, novel), Mr. Anis Ashfaq (Urdu, Khawab Saraab, novel) and Mr. Janardan Prasad Pandey ‘Mani’ (Sanskrit, Deepmanikyam, poetry), figure among the writers and litterateurs who have been chosen for Sahitya Akademi 2022 awards. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY, FEBRUARY 2023

India's Mrs. Sargam Kaushal on December 18, 2022 became ‘Mrs World 2022’, bringing the title back to India after 21 years. H India’s Ms. Shalini Kumari receives the first prize in the Grassroots Innovation Competition at the 3rd ASEAN-India Grassroots Innovator Forum. 24. Indian cyclist Ms. Swati Singh is conferred the prestigious 30th 2022 Ekalabya Puraskar.

JANUARY 2023 2. Guyana’s President Mr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, US-based businessman Mr. Darshan Singh Dhaliwal and Singapore’s DBS Bank CEO Mr. Piyush Gupta are named among 27 recipients of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2023. 4. Odisha wins the UN Habitat’s World Habitat Awards 2023 for its Jaga Mission, a 5T initiative, which is the world’s largest land tilting and slum upgrading programme, aiming at empowering the lives of slum dwellers. 7. Mr. Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, the Chief Justice of India, is selected for the “2022 Award for Global Leadership”. 17

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DECEMBER 2022 8. The Institute of Remote Sensing, a unit of the ISRO, is all set to develop a Spatial Data Infrastructure Geoportal, named “Geo Ladakh”, for the Union Territory of Ladakh, says the Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh. 9. The ISRO and Headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) jointly conduct and successfully complete hypersonic vehicles trials, achieving all required parameters and demonstrated hypersonic vehicle capabilities. 12. To promote the use of ‘NAVigation with the Indian Constellation’ (NavIC), the Indian version of GPS, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) gets all set to introduce the L1 frequency in all its future satellites. 15. India successfully carries out night trials of the Agni-5 nuclear-capable ballistic missile from A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha that has the capability to hit targets beyond 5,000 kilometres. 16. The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration launches the newest Earth Science satellite to track nearly all the water on Earth’s surface. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography spacecraft is launched atop a SpaceX rocket from California with a prime mission of three years. 25. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur announces that it is ready with an artificial heart, developed by a team of 10 scientists and doctors, which will be of great help to people with acute cardiac problems. 28. SpaceX launches first 54 satellites of the new generation or v2.0 or Gen2, atop its Falcon 9 launch vehicle, from the Space Launch Complex 40 of the US 18

India on December 15, 2022 successfully carried out night trials of Agni-5 nuclearcapable ballistic missile from A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. Air Force Base at Cape Canaveral, Florida, to deploy them in low-earth orbit.

JANUARY 2023 1. The Indian Space and Research Organisation, National Centre for Earth Sciences, and the Andhra University set up equipment across the sea beaches in Andhra Pradesh to predict rip currents that have become a danger to the beach visitors. 5. Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurates National Genome Editing & Training Centre, a one-roof state-of-the-art facility to serve as national platform for adopting different genome editing methods, at National Agri-food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) Mohali in Punjab. 8. New images taken by NASA’s James Webb Telescope reveal galaxies with stellar bars—elongated features of stars that stretch from the centres of galaxies into the outer disk—dating back to a time when the universe was just 25% of its present age. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY, FEBRUARY 2023

JUNIOR ESSAY CONTESTS 913 & 914

INDIA OF MY DREAMS

ARCHIT GIRISH DANDAVATE First Prize Winner

“Winners don’t do different things, they do things differently.” In the spirit of this saying, winners, achievers, visionaries, game changers abound in plenty in the India of my dreams. As also envisioned by Swami Vivekananda, in my dream country, there will be men and women with “iron muscles and nerves of steel, inside which dwells a mind of the same material of which the thunderbolt is made.” Indeed India is a developing country but is also the one with enormous still untapped potential. It has already excelled in many areas such as Space Research, Pharmacy, Nuclear Research, Computer and IT, etc. but there are still miles to go, before it becomes a developed country in all respects. India has a vast amount of natural resources but due to lack of technology and poor infrastructure, the country hasn’t been able to harness them to fullest extent. The following are some of my thoughts on how an ideal India should be. The India of my dreams would be a country where all individuals will have GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY, FEBRUARY 2023

equal opportunities to thrive and succeed. It would be the best nation in all good regards. The people would be united and there would be no conflicts among the citizens. The crime rate would be 0% and citizens would feel safe to live in the country and to commute at any time of the day. The military strength of the country would be the best in the world but the military would be used in only unavoidable circumstances, particularly when issues could not be solved by peaceful means. The country would be peaceful and establish friendly relations with as many countries as possible. In India of my dreams, basic primary education would be free and it would be compulsory for each and every individual to get basic primary education. Good higher education facilities would not be restricted to only the rich but would be equally and affordably accessible by every individual. I dream of India’s literacy rate to be 100%. Education facilities and the quality of education would be the very best and people of foreign countries would come to India for education. Cleanliness and public hygiene would be taken seriously and pure drinking water would be available to all. Public transport facilities would be highly developed and quality and frequency of public transport would be excellent. Medical and pharmaceutical facilities would be at par with the best in the world and would be pocket-friendly and easily accessible for all. People from abroad would come to take treatment in India. I dream of an India where students, who excel in sports and want to take sports as a full-time career, would be 19

encouraged and top-class facilities would be made available to them. This would result in India excelling in world sports events and tournaments as the talented would be trained from a young age. I look forward to an India whose economy would be the largest and mostdeveloped in the world. The GDP would be the best in the world and the amount of exports would far exceed imports. India’s per capita income would be highest in the world and India would be home to majority of billionaires. India would be corruption-free and if any of the government officials, public servants and bureaucrats were caught taking bribes, they would be severely punished. This would be the New India—a great country, a land of peace, prosperity and truthfulness where no one would be afraid of speaking the truth. It would be a country where women would be

unequivocally respected, people of all religions would amicably coexist and where every citizen would be proud to be an Indian. It would be a country free from violence, terrorism, hunger and suffering. This is my vision of an ideal India. I would like to end with this quote by Nobel Laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore: “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high; Where knowledge is free, Where the world has not been broken down into fragments, By narrow domestic walls; Where words come out from the depths of truth, And tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection; Into that heaven of freedom, My Father, ❑ Let my country awake!”

MY AMBITION IN LIFE The great visionary Swami Vivekananda said, “A man is not poor without a Rupee, but a man is really poor without a dream and ambition.” This statement emphasises the importance of ambition and dreams in the life of a human being. I too dream of climbing the ladder of success some fine day by the dint of my talent, perseverance and determination. I want to be a dynamic Computer Engineer and write my own destiny. It is a journey of thousand miles and I am prepared to give my best. I understand that achieving this rosy dream of becoming a Computer Engineer is full of challenges and tough competition. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had said, “A dream is not that which you see while sleeping, it is something that does not 20

let you sleep”. I will work to the best of my ability and work on my weaknesses till the time “the world calls my signature an autograph.” Computer Engineers are those who create a better world and make life comfortable. I realised that I have a profound and deep interest in this field very early in my childhood. I am fascinated by new technology; software excite me and intrigue me beyond words. The benefits of this profession are a good pay package, job security and an opportunity to innovate and explore the beauty of the computer world. In this long journey to become a Computer Engineer, the achievers and game changers like Steve Jobs and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam are the lighthouses on my way—they inspire me by their precious thoughts and deeds, they encourage and

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY, FEBRUARY 2023

motivate me by their profound, life changing quotes. Steve Jobs in his commencement address to Stanford University students in 2005 said, “Your time is limited. Don’t waste it by living somebody else’s life. Don’t be trapped in dogma.” I want to make mistakes because this is the way I learn. I want to follow the beat of my own drum. Life is worthless if it is aimless. History is witness to the fact that ordinary people have achieved extraordinary success by their goalsetting skills and talent. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam inspires me by his words, deeds and thoughts. His reaction to failure serves as a dose of positivity in this strife-ridden world. He worked harder when he met failure and did not get disheartened by it. Dr. Kalam was a poet, technocrat, writer, teacher and above all, a good human being. He was great dreamer and he transformed his dreams into actions. I too like to dream and will strive ceaselessly to convert my dreams into reality. He was a true patriot and served our motherland till his last breath. I too want to contribute my mite in the task of nation building. Dr. Kalam said that only three types of people have the capacity to bring about a change in society i.e. a student, a mother and a teacher. Though he reached great heights he was humble to the core. I will try to imbibe these qualities in my personality. Once the noted Indian industrialist Mr. Ratan Tata, while guiding the B-School Management students at a Convocation instructed them: “Do not count your success or luxuries by the amount of money in your bank account. Instead count your riches by the number of lives that you have enriched during the journey of your life.” I too want to help the helpless, motivate the depressed GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY, FEBRUARY 2023

MS. NIDA SHAIKH FIRST PRIZE WINNER

and be a guiding star for those lost in the storm. “Lives of great men all remind us, We can make our lives sublime, And departing leaves behind us, Footprints on the sands of Time.” These sublime words of H.W. Longfellow continue to instil confidence and courage in me whenever I feel dejected. Ambition for me is not just career prospects or achievement of material glory. I want to enrich my life in all areas, including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and economic aspects. In the various roles that I play as a girl, daughter, student, professional, a citizen of this great country and above all a human being, I will try to make this world a better place to live in. I want to be strong, dynamic and make a positive difference in the lives of those around me. “Arise, awake and stop not till your goal is reached…” these inspiring words of Swami Vivekananda will guide me in my journey to my dream destination. By the grace of the Almighty, with the blessings of my beloved parents and my own dedicated efforts, I am sure to reach my El Dorado. ❑ 21

JUNIOR ESSAY CONTESTS 1st Prize for each contest : Study Material (worth Rs. 1,500) 42 Highly Commendable Prizes : India & The World Wall Maps worth Rs. 150 plus a Certificate of Merit.

2 TOPICS Contest 917 : Swami Vivekananda Contest 918 : A Football Match Length : 750 Words Eligible age group : 15-21 Years LAST DATE : FEBRUARY 10, 2023 THERE IS NO ENTRY FEE. Entries should be typed double-spaced on one side of the paper and must be accompanied by two latest passport size (bust) colour photographs. Photographs should be taken in formal dress as if appearing for an Interview/Personality Test. Name, Mobile No., Email, Address, City, State, Pin Code of the contributor along with biodata must be written on the first page of the entry and only name on the back of the photograph. All entries, along with photographs, received will be the exclusive property of CSR Group and can be used for its promotion. The contributor will be solely responsible for any violation of the Copyright Act where the material submitted for the Contests is not original. Editor’s decision will be final and binding. No correspondence will be entertained in this regard.

Entries via Email with scanned photographs are to be considered on a par with those in usual format. Entries should be marked “Junior Essay Contests—917 & 918” Please write your Name, Mobile No., Email, Address, City, State, Pin Code to : Competition Review Pvt. Ltd. 604 Prabhat Kiran, Rajendra Place, New Delhi-110125 Email : [email protected] 22

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY, FEBRUARY 2023

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE 1. What is the mass of a material, whose specific heat capacity is 400 J/ (kg °C) for a rise in temperature from 15 °C to 25 °C, when heat received is 20 kJ ? (a) 0.1 kg (b) 1 kg (c) 10 kg (d) 5 kg 2. The specific latent heat of vaporisation of a substance is the quantity of heat needed to change unit mass from (a) liquid to vapour with a change of temperature (b) liquid to vapour without a change of temperature (c) vapour to liquid without a change of temperature (d) vapour to liquid with a change of temperature 3. Evaporation from the surface of a given liquid takes place more rapidly when (a) the temperature is high and the surface area of the liquid is large (b) the temperature is low and the surface area of the liquid is large (c) the temperature is low and the surface area of the liquid is small (d) the temperature is high and the surface area of the liquid is small GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TODAY, FEBRUARY 2023

4. Which of the following statements correctly explains/explain the existence of a positive force between two electric charges? 1. Both the charges are positive. 2. Both the charges are negative. 3. Both the charges are oppositely charged. Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 5. An electric wire of resistance 50 ohm is cut into five equal wires. These wires are then connected in parallel. What is the equivalent resistance of this combination? (a) 2 ohm (b) 10 ohm (c) 0.5 ohm (d) 5 ohm 6. The electric field lines from an isolated positively charged conducting sphere are (a) tangential to the conducting surface (b) at right angles to the conducting surface and towards the centre of the sphere (c) at any angle to the conducting surface (d) at right angles to the conducting surface and outwards from the centre of the sphere 23

7. Which one of the following is not a solution? (a) Alloy (b) Milk (c) Air (d) Sugar 8. Refining of petroleum is carried out using which one of the following techniques? (a) Evaporation (b) Fractional distillation (c) Separating funnel (d) Sublimation 9. Which one of the following is a chemical change? (a) Dissolving sugar in water (b) Melting of ice (c) Crystallisation (d) Milk turning sour 10. Which one of the following is the cor rect molecular for mula of ammonium carbonate if the valency of ammonium ion is (+1) and carbonate anion is (–2) ? (a) (NH4)2 CO3 (b) NH4(CO3 )2 (c) (NH3)2CO3 (d) NH4CO3 11. Which one of the following is a covalent compound? (a) Calcium oxide (b) Sodium nitride (c) Silicon carbide (d) Zinc sulphide 12. The mass number of argon is 40. Which one of the following statements is correct? (a) The number of protons in argon is 22. (b) The number of neutrons in argon is 18. (c) The number of electrons in argon is 18. (d) The sum of numbers of protons and electrons in argon is 40. 13. Which one of the following is the correct order of the valencies of elements Ne, Si, N and Mg ? 24

(a) Ne < Mg < N < Si (b) Si < N < Mg < Ne (c) Ne